Enterprise optimization

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Enterprise Optimization (EO) is "a systematic process of planning, integrating, coordinating and executing all dimensions of enterprise activities for best-possible mission-focused results". [1] It is a sub-field of management science. The purpose of EO is to answer the basic question "What do we need to do to earn best-possible profits under continually changing market conditions?" As a practical field of management Enterprise Optimization is both a science and an art. [2]

Management science (MS) is the broad interdisciplinary study of problem solving and decision making in human organizations, with strong links to management, economics, business, engineering, management consulting, and other fields. It uses various scientific research-based principles, strategies, and analytical methods including mathematical modeling, statistics and numerical algorithms to improve an organization's ability to enact rational and accurate management decisions by arriving at optimal or near optimal solutions to complex decision problems. Management science helps businesses to achieve goals using various scientific methods.

Contents

Linear programming (LP), originally developed and commonly used for optimal allocation of scarce resources, is the primary mathematical tool of Enterprise Optimization.

Linear programming

Linear programming is a method to achieve the best outcome in a mathematical model whose requirements are represented by linear relationships. Linear programming is a special case of mathematical programming.

Concepts

Enterprise Optimization defines 5 types of resources: Capital, Procurement options, Sales opportunities, Production capabilities, and Information. [3] EO can be thought of as the optimization of the procurement and the use of these resources. [4]

Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process.

Opportunity Values (OVs) are a by-product of Linear programming. Positive OVs show how much bottom-line profit gain will come with each constraint relief. For controllable variables with negative OVs, this value shows how much any profit-forfeiting activities are costing. In the field of Operations research Opportunity values are called Shadow prices or sometimes Marginal values.

Operations research (OR) is a discipline that deals with the application of advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions. Further, the term operational analysis is used in the British military as an intrinsic part of capability development, management and assurance. In particular, operational analysis forms part of the Combined Operational Effectiveness and Investment Appraisals, which support British defense capability acquisition decision-making.

A shadow price is commonly referred to as a monetary value assigned to currently unknowable or difficult-to-calculate costs. It is based on the willingness to pay principle - in the absence of market prices, the most accurate measure of the value of a good or service is what people are willing to give up in order to get it. Shadow pricing is often calculated on certain assumptions and premises. As a result, it is subjective and somewhat imprecise and inaccurate. The origin of these costs is typically due to an externalization of costs or an unwillingness to recalculate a system to account for marginal production. For example, consider a firm that already has a factory full of equipment and staff. They might estimate the shadow price for a few more units of production as simply the cost of the overtime. In this manner, some goods and services have near zero shadow prices, for example information goods. Less formally, a shadow price can be thought of as the cost of decisions made at the margin without consideration for the total cost.

Field of opportunities (sometimes also called Profit Gap) is another concept of Enterprise Optimization. Field of opportunities is defined as the distance between the best-possible level of enterprise performance and the current performance. [5]

History

The first known application of Linear Programming for the purposes of enterprise optimization was a computerized LP system for an Oregon forest products company in 1967. The term "Enterprise Optimization" is attributed to Eugene L, Bryan, PhD in 1970.

Applications

Enterprise Optimization has been applied in the forest [6] , plywood, and sawmill industries since 1970s. It has also been applied in the food , steel , and other manufacturing industries.

Related Research Articles

References

  1. Bryan, Eugene L.; Bielat, Andrew C. (2013). The BestPossible Enterprise.
  2. Management as both Science and Art
  3. Bryan, Eugene L (2003). BestPossible Profits: Guidebook for Forest Products Companies.
  4. Bielat, Andrew C.; Bryan, Eugene L. Profit Hawks: Capture the Profits Being Lost Every Day to the Complexity of Your Business.
  5. How to Recognize Your Business' Potential for New Opportunities
  6. Bryan, Eugene L. (1997). The Best Possible Sawmill: Guidebook for the High-Tech Journey Ahead.